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May 12,2020 • Filed to: Mac Recovery • Proven solutions
Our computers are like our own digital spaces where we store and process information. Privacy values a great deal in computing, and most of the time, the only way to keep your files safe from others using the same computer is to hide them.
How to hide files and folders on Mac? We are going to help you with that very question today with answers that you can use to safely hide your files on Mac.
Part 1: Hiding files on Mac – Why Privacy is Important
Files that you have on your Mac might be free to use for everyone or they might be something for your eyes only. And there are many reasons why we would want to keep the files hidden from others.
To keep the file safe: If your Mac is used by other members of the family or office, then there is a chance they might use your file or gain access to them. Hiding files on Mac gives you a peace of mind that your files are not used by anyone else.
Sensitive information: You Mac can contain very sensitive information, either related to your private or professional life. So it is of paramount importance that this information does not fall into the hands of people who may exploit it. Hiding your files or folders on Mac makes it impossible for them to get to them.
To save multiple copies: Hiding the copies of a file is helpful when you want to safeguard it against file loss. Hiding the extra copies will remove it from sight.
Part 2: 4 Proven Ways to Hide Files and Folders on Mac
The process of hiding files and folders on Mac should be done with caution because if it doesn’t work out, then your files will be visible to anyone who ventures to that folder or window. Here are 4 different ways that you can use to Hide files and folders in Mac.
Method 1: Using keyboard shortcuts to Hide Hidden file/folders on mac
The first method that we are going to discuss is about hiding hidden folders with just a simple keyboard combo. If you press CMD + Shift + . on the keyboard, then Mac will hide or unhide the files that are already been hidden. This is an easy method that you can use to easily flip between hidden and visible status for files.
Method 2: Using Terminal to Hide Files on Mac
The terminal can help you hide files on Mac with just a few steps. The process is quite easy and will come in handy if you want to hide file or folders.
Step 1 Open a Terminal window by pressing Command + Space and then typing Terminal. Press enter to open the Terminal.
Step 2 Type in chflags hidden.
Step 3 Now drag and drop the file or folder you want to hide into the window.
Step 4 Note down the path of the folder or file so that you can access it when you need it the next time.
Method 3: Enabling FileVault
FileVault is Apple’s inbuilt file encryption feature. when you turn on FileVault, the files in your Mac will be encrypted with 128-bit AES Encryption. Now the files on your Mac can only be accessed using a password. No one else but you will have access to the files on your Mac. The following steps will help you turn on FileVault on Mac.
Step 1 Navigate to Apple Menu> System Preferences.
Step 2 Out of the options, click on Security and Privacy.
Step 3 In the following Window, Click on the FireVault Tab.
Step 4 Click on Turn On FileVault.
Now Mac will provide you with a key that you can use to unlock your hard drive if you forget your password. Make sure you write and store the key somewhere safe. From now onwards, files on your mac can only be accessed with your password.
Method 4: Hide files on Mac by moving them to another user account
The files of the user account on a Mac will be not visible for a second user account on the same Mac. This essentially means that files on a user account are hidden from the other user account.
You can use this to your advantage by creating a second user account on Mac. Now to hide files from your account, all you need to do is move them to the second user account.
Step 1 Navigate to Apple menu > System Preferences.
Step 2 Out of the options provided, click on Users & Groups.
Step 3 Click on the Lock button that is provided at the lower left corner and click on the + button.
Step 4 Enter the new account details to set up a profile.
Now your Mac will have a second account which you can use to hide files from the main account. If the files are accessible between two accounts, you need to turn off the file sharing option found in Apple Menu> System Preferences>Sharing.
Part 3: How to Hide Icons from Mac Desktop
We have discussed four different ways in which you can hide files on Mac, but what if you want to hide desktop icons? Such a need arises when you don’t want other users accessing your applications or software. If you want to protect your games or software from being opened by others, then you should definitely try this option.
Step 1 Open Terminal on your Mac.
Step 2 Type in the following command line
defaults write com.apple.finder CreateDesktop false
killall Finder
Step 3 To unhide Finder, enter in the following command line
defaults write com.apple.finder CreateDesktop true
killall Finder
This feature also comes in handy when you want to reduce any distractions while working on your Mac.
Part 4: How to Unhide Files on Mac
We have discussed many methods on hiding files and folders on Mac, now let us focus on unhiding the files on Mac. Making files visible is necessary when you want to use those files. Sometimes, we might forget the files we made hidden, and uncovering them can be tricky if you don’t know how to do it.
The following three methods will help you unhide files on Mac and we have even added a method that could help you recover lost files on Mac.
Method 1: Unhide files on Mac using Keyboard Shortcuts
The keyboard shortcut that we used to hide hidden files in Mac is the same combo that is used to show the hidden files.
So if you want to unhide hidden folders or files, just press down on CMD + Shift + . and you will be able to see all the files in that specific path.
Method 2. Use Mac terminal command to show hidden files
You can also use the terminal command to unhide files. the process involves entering a line of code into the terminal, which makes all the hidden visible. This method is especially helpful if you have numerous hidden files or folders which needs to be made visible quickly.
Step 1 Open Terminal.
Step 2 Enter the following code - defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YES
Step 3 Press Enter.
Step 4 Relaunch the Finder by right-clicking on the finder icon and pressing Relaunch.
Method 3. Use a Mac Data Recovery Tool
One of the common mistakes done while hiding files on a mac is that the user will forget where they have hidden the files. And if your Mac has a lot of files and folders, then the task of finding these hidden files becomes a near impossible task. They are also deleted when you delete the folder without knowing you have files hidden within it.
This is where we realize the importance of a Data Recovery tool. We always recommend Recoverit (IS) tool for Mac.
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Some of the impressive features of Recoverit (IS) Tool are:
- Helps to recover deleted, formatted, and hidden files
- Supports a whole range of media files including mp3, wmv, flv, mpeg4, etc
- Advanced scanning tool is capable of extracting even formatted files
- Users can preview the files before recovering them
- Works completely offline without requiring any internet connection.
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The installation process of Recoverit (IS) Tool is also very simple. You can use the software by yourself without requiring any form of external assistance. We have provided a comprehensive guide that you can follow to recover hidden files from your Mac.
Step 1 Download and install Recoverit (IS) Tool
Download the latest version of iskysoft Data recovery tool from the official website. Do not trust software from unofficial websites or sources.
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Step 2 Select a Recovery Mode
Now choose a Recovery mode per your requirement.
Step 3 Select a drive to scan
If you know the specific drive where your files had been stored, choose that drive so that the software can better target the recovery process.
Step 4 Preview and Recover the files
The window will show you that list of recovered files. you can choose to recover them or discard them. Use the preview feature so that you know exactly what you are recovering.
The dr.fone is a very powerful tool that can help you out when you are in tricky situations with your Mac. Make sure that you keep the files on your device.
Conclusion
The files on your Mac is yours to use and hiding them is the best way to keep others from finding it or using it. You can use the various methods that we have discussed here to hide or unhide Mac files and get the most out of your system.
Because I really don’t want to rile up all you wonderful Mac users, I’ve decided to do a follow-up on the whole hiding your folders in plain view dilemma.
Hide Folder Mac Os
If haven’t done so already, be sure to check out my article on how to hide your files, folders, and disk drives; it may not apply to Mojave or whatever else OS you’re running, but at least you’ll get an idea of what you’re up against. So, how do you hide folders on Mac?
Get yourself acquainted with the Terminal (Mac’s version of Windows’ command prompt) because, as it happens, it’s the only way to hide folders on Mac without resorting to third-party tools. Let’s dig in.
How to Hide Folders on Mac – Quick and Painless Version
If you really don’t want to trouble yourself with code, there’s a very easy and extremely fast way to hide your folders on Mac -by using the FileVault.
Basically, it turns your hard-drive in a Fort Knox-like vault which cannot be opened without the proper cipher, which in this case is the username and password associated with your admin account.
Or, more generally, how to delete apps on Mac that won't delete?If you’re tech savvy, you might think that using Terminal might help you, by using its remove command. Get rid of default Mac appsWhile default Apple apps are fine for beginners, with time you discover more and more third-party software that suits you better. For example, Mail or Notes or Books. Mac os software list. And when that’s the case, why keep all those default apps around stealing precious space?Some pre-installed apps — GarageBand or iMovie — can be deleted just like any other app and then recovered from the App Store in case you ever need them again.Some other apps, however, are crucial to your macOS and won’t go away after a simple ⌘ + Delete. So how to uninstall Mail on Mac?
Yes, I know it’s like curing the disease by killing the patient, but I did say that it’s the easiest way to go about hiding your folders. Anyway, here’s what you’ll need to do, should you choose to use FileVault for masking your files, folders, and everything in between.
Step 1. Click on the Apple icon located in the upper-left corner of your screen.
Step 2. Click on System Preferences.
Step 3. Click on Security & Privacy.
Step 4. Head to the FileVault tab (it’s right next to the General tab).
Step 5. Click on the padlock icon to make changes.
Step 6. Click on the Turn On FileVault button.
Step 7. In the next dialog box, select the recovery method. You can choose between iCloud and generating a local recovery key. I, for one, would go with the later version since it’s more secure (no use compromising two accounts if your password gets stolen).
Here’s what’s going to happen if you use the local recovery key method: you will be taken to another dialog box where you will be going to see a system-generated code.
It looks very much like a Windows or antivirus activation key. Put this code in a new document or something. That the recovery key you’ll be using in case you don’t remember the password.
Step 8. Click on Continue.
Step 9. Click again on the Continue button to finish the process.
That’s it! Now FileVault will begin encrypting all the data on your drive. Depending on your specs, this process can take anywhere from a couple of hours to a few days.
Don’t worry too much about ending up with a potato computer; you’ll still be able to surf the web, watch movies, or play games because everything happens in the background.
One more thing: don’t forget to hook up your Mac to the power outlet. You really wouldn’t want to run out of juice in the middle of a procedure involving the drive on which your entire data is stored.
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How to hide folders on Mac using Terminal
There’s also a way to hide folders on Mac, but it involves using the Terminal. Don’t worry; it’s just a couple of command lines. Nothing too fancy or complicated. So, here’s how to hide files/folders using Terminal.
Step 1. Click on Finder.
Step 2. From the left panel, select Applications.
Step 3. Scroll down until you see Utilities. Double-click to enter the Utilities menu.
Step 4. Double-click on Terminal.
Step 5. Type in the following line:
Step 6. Create a new folder on your desktop. Fill it with stuff that you want to hide.
Step 7. Drag-and-drop the folder on to the Terminal window. If you look closely, you’ll see that the folder’s path has appeared.
Step 8. Press Return to hide the folder.
Great! Now that your folder’s out of sight, out of mind, let’s see how we go about accessing it. There are three ways to access hidden files and folders.
Method 1 – Using the Go to Folder function
From the Go menu, select Go to Folder. In the dialog box that appears on your screen, type in the path of your hidden folder. Don’t forget to include the “~” sign before the path.
It should look something like this: “~/Desktop/MyHiddenFiles”
Method 2 – Using the Open/Dialog function
Double-click on Finder and select Desktop from Favorites. Press the Show items as icons, in a list, in columns, or in the library (the pictogram looks like a rectangle divided by to straight lines). You may need to perform this operation a couple of times before the folder becomes visible.
Method 3 – Show hidden files in Finder
It’s possible to see a hidden file in Finder, but you will need to tinker a bit with Terminal. So, fire up your Terminal, and type in the following line:
Press Return to continue. After that, please type in or paste the following line:
Again, press return, go to Finder, and there you are – what was once hidden, can now be seen. Enjoy!
How to hide folders on your Mac by using Terminal Aliases
Aliases are macros or shortcuts to various commands. Albeit temporary, we can easily turn this into a more permanent solution. Again, you will need to fiddle around with the Terminal. So, here’s what you’ll need to do:
Step 1. Open the Terminal.
Step 2. Type in or paste the following line:
Step 3. When prompted, type in the username and password associated with your active admin account.
Step 4. Press Return to continue.
Step 5. Scroll down to the end of the open .bash_profile.
Step 6. Type in or paste the following line:
Step 7. Navigate to the following line and type in or paste the following:
Step 8. Save the file.
Step 9. Exit Terminal.
That’s about it. Now, the next time you will launch Finder, all desired folders will be hidden.
Even more ways to hide files and folders on your Mac
As they say, there’s more than one way to skin something (please don’t say “cat”). So, if you found that the methods described are much too difficult, here are a couple of more ways to hide folders on Mac.
Using the “mv” command
The “mv” command in Terminal moves a file or folder from one place to another. How does this help you? Here’s the trick: the “mv” command moves the folder from its original location to a period folder.
Now, by default, period folders are hidden because they contain system-critical information. Basically, it’s the same thing as moving files or folders to your System32 folder in Windows.
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To make files invisible in this manner, open Terminal and type in mv filename .filename. Replace “filename” with the name of the file you want to hide and the “.filename” parameter with the name of the system-protect file.
Deploy Apple’s Developer Tools
If you’re in the mood to do a bit of tweaking, download and deploy one of Apple’s Dev Tools and enter the following command in Terminal: setfile -a V <name of the file you want to hide>. The name of the file should follow the “V” parameter without the “<>”. This command will set the file’s attribute to invisible.
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Dump everything in the Library folder
Hide Files On Mac
When everything else fails, try the Library folder. It’s hidden by default, making it the ideal place to store top-secret stuff. Just fire up your Finder, navigate to Finder, right-click, create a new folder, and drag all the files in there.
Use third-party file-hiding software
Hide Folder For Mac
You can also use special software to keep your folders away from prying eyes. The best ones are Altomac and Hide Folders. However, there are also open-source alternatives such as AES Crypt, Axcrypt, or File Lock PE. Give them a try if you’re looking to beef up your account’s privacy.
Wrap-up
That’s it on how to hide folders on Mac computer. Know any more methods? Hit the comments section and let me know.
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